Weather-strip



(No Model.)

A-. LA JEUNESSE.

WEATHER STRIP.

Patented May 12, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLPHE LA JEUNESSE, OF ALAHEDA, CALIFORNIA.

WEATH ER-STRIP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 452,106, dated May 12, 1891.

Application filed September 17. 1890. Serial No. 365,298. (No modal.)

T0 aZZ whom imay concern:

Be it known that I, ADOLPHE LA JEUNESSE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ala- 1neda, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented a certain new and nseful Improvement in 'Weather- Strips, of

'which the foliowing is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap, and convenient device for accurately closing the space between the lower edge of a door and the threshold, and thereby afford an effective protection against airdrafts, moistnre, dust, and such other things as are incompatible With the cleanliness of a house or the health of its occupants.

My invention therefore relates to a doorstrip; and it consists of certain combinations of parts and peculiar details of construction, Which I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings, Which form part of this specification.

Figure lis a front elevation of a door-case and door provided with my improved device, which appears as shntting down tightly upon the sill. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same, showing the weather-strip in dotted lines only. Fig. 3 is a broken perspective view of my device as it appears when the door is open. Fig. 4:is a sectional elevation of the same, and Fig. 5 is a detail view of thestrip G.

The same parts are indicated by the same letters of reference in the several views.

v A represents a door-case, and B a door fitted and swinging therein in the nsnal manner. To the lower end of door B is nailed, screwed, or otherwise secured a narrow piece of wood or other suitabie material 0, which constitutes the upper part of my improved strip. This piece extends across nearly the whole width of the door and is beveled upwardly toward the door npon its onter side, while its nnder or lower edge is correspondingly beveled, as indicated at a.

D is a piece of same material jointed to C by hinges a and beveled so as to fit it accurately frbm below in the sense that both pieces appear as one when they are brought together and the door is closed, their outer face presenting a continuons incline and their inner or lower and upper bevels, respectively, matching perfectly. The outer end of the lower part D is also rounded off, as plainly indicated position represented at Figs. 1 and 2.

by a dotted line in Fig. 1, and by the referenoe-ietters d in Fig. 3, to enabie it to clear the door-jamb when swnng in or out.

The hinged pieces 0 and D Constitnte the weatber-strip proper and wonld of themselves form a good joint with the bottom part of the door-case if properly applied; but to render them still more effective I attach to the un- .der side of the lower piece a band or packing d, of rubber or like material. This baud, being pliant and elastic, readily adapts itself, when in contact With the door-case, to all the inequalities of its surface and formsa tighter joint tbroughout. Another baud or packing d, of similar material, covers the inner half of the upper face of the piece D and effects a better joint between it and the under side of the top piece 0.

The weather-strip is made to clear the threshold, When opening the door, by means of a Weight E, made of a rather thin strip of lead, which I place between the door and the weather-strip lengthwise of the latter and hang by hooks a to eye-screws 6 at the upper corner of the piece D. A weight thus made and plaoed occupies but lit-tic room and has a good purchase upon the swinging piece of the weather-strip, which, if well proportioned, it Will balance and lift out of the way at the proper time., To prevent the weight from overbalancing the piece D and interfering With its proper working, I bind the backs of the two pieces 0 and D loosely together bymeans of straps of leather or other flexible material F, one at each end of the lower strip. In this way the lower part D cannot be tipped over, but is limited in its upward movement, no matter if the weight be too heavy or the strip run against some obstacle. It is advisable, however, to have the weight of such dimensions as to simply balance the partD and not bring too much of a strain npon the straps.

The weather-strip is brought into action through the 1nedinm of a stop or bar G, pref erably made of wood, and set in an inclined position wit-hin the door-case opposite the lower onter edge of the door. It is so placed as to encounter the weather-strip upon the door being closed and force the hinged pieces 0 and D composing it to meet and assume the It is also beveled, as shown at Fig. 1, and its in- ICO clination 511011 as to conform with the steep incline 01: the closed strip. It will be observed that the hypotennse of this strip faces outwardly, and the bar is reversible in the sense chat t may be applied to either side of the dom-case, aecording as the door swings to the right or lefla. The lower edge, however, has to be sawed off some, in 01der to be properly seated on the threshoid.

It Will be observed that my improved weather-strip is peeuliarly adapted to the purposes in view, nasmueh as it fills all the reqnirements of such devices. It is made of but few pieces, easily eonstrueted and put together, and readily applied. Not only does it make a tight joint With the sill, but its composing parts are so shaped and adjnsted as to make tight joints with themselves, which is just as important. Furthemnore, the beveling and inclination of the stop and strip cause them to act as a water-shed, and this, taken in connection With the inner bevels of the npper and 1ower parts and the other featuros of construction, renders my devine absolutely impervous t0 water, air-tight, and dnshproof.

I am aware that weather-strips hinged near the lower edge of a door have been made prior to my invention; but; snch devices eannot make a good joint unless the door be ont into, whieh is not always practicable and is always objectionable. Strps made of jointed pieces operated by springs have also been made heretofore.

. Having thns deseribed my invention, what I daim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent; of the United States, is-- In a weather-strip, the combination of an upper stationary piece, a lower pieee hinged thereto, serew-eyes projeeting from the rear side of the lower piece, a Weight running transversely across the rear side of the lower piece and provided with hooks adapted t0 engage the screw-eyes, and straps having their ends secured to the two pieces, adapted to limit the action of said weight, substanfially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto soi; my hand and seal.

ADOLPIIE LA JEUNESSE. [L. 5.]

In presenee of- CHAS. T. STANLEY, IIORACE D. RANLEJT. 

